Cartridge.



J. H. WESSUN.

CARTRIDGE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAB..27, 1913. 1,079,083. Patented Nov. 18, 1913.

UNTTED STATES PATENT FFTE.

JOSEPH H. WESSON, 0F SRINGFIiLD, MASSACHUSETTS.

CARTRIDGE.

Application filed March 27,

T 0 ail whom t may concern.'

Be it known that l, JosnrH H. VEssoN, a citizen of the United States, residing in Springfield, in the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Cartridges, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a speciiication, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

The present invention relates to a cartridge, and is embodied in a cartridge of the kind which is adapted to seat against the shoulder atI the front end of the chamber, instead of being held in position against the impact of the hammer by means of a projecting flange of larger diameter than the body of the shell which engages the part around the chamber at the back. Cartridges having the characteristics described are especially adapted for use in magazine fire arms where the projecting flange is an objectionable feature. lt is essential, however, in cartridges of this kind that the shells should be absolutely uniform in length, and in manufacturing shells crimped in the ordinary way to hold the bullet, or made to fit a chamber of special shape, itis a diiiicult matter to secure the necessary uniformity.

In accordance with the present invent-ion, a portion of the front end of the shell is left in its original shape, the bullet being held by crimping or pressing inward another portion of the front end of the shell, this being suflicient to hold the bullet firmly in place. By this construction it is possible to trim the shells to a uniform length, the crimping being done by a tool which is adapted to press portions of the shell down against the bullet. The uncrimped part of the shell is left in its original shape, the front edge of the shell thus constituting a bearing which positions the shell against the annular shoulder at the front of the chamber. 2i further advantage secured by this construction is that the shoulder can be made rectangular in cross-section, instead cf having some special shape, as in the case of some lire arms which are adapted to receive specially shaped cartridges.

Figure l is a side elevation of a cartridge embodying the invention; and Fig. 2 is a front view of the same.

Referring to Fig. l, the shell a is cylindri- Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 18,1913.

i913. Serial No. 757,075.

cal in shape, being provided at the rear with the usual annular channel a? to afford the annular shoulder a3 to be engaged by the extractor hook. The bullet which is somewhat smaller in diameter than the shell a, is inserted in the front of the shell in the usual way, so as to project forward from the chamber of the pistol into the barrel when the cartridge is in firing position. In order to provide a bearing surface at the front of the shell to cooperate with the shoulder at the front of the chamber, the front edge of the shell, or a portion thereof, is left in its original shape, the bullet being held in position by crimping or pressing inward another portion of the shell against the surface of the bullet. In the construction shown, the shell is crimped along the front edge, and alternating portions are left in the original shape, with the crimped portions between them, thus formingl a series of adjacent tongues, the tongues a? being forced inward against the bullet, and the other tongues a6 being left in their orig ial shape. Ly this construction, the bullet is firmly held in position, while a sufficient portion of the shell remains in the cylindrical shape to bear iirmly against the shoulder at the front end of the chamber and hold the cartridge against the impact of the firing pin. in order to secure uniformity in the length of the shells, therefore, it is only necessary to trim the ends of said shells before loading, this being an operation which can easily be accomplished w h greataccuracy.

lt is not essential that the front of the shell should be slit, as shown in the drawing, as it is obvious that the crimping of a portion of the shell, as distinguished from the crimping of the entire outer edge, will result in tne formation of the article embodying the invention.

What l claim is:

l. A cartridge comprising a metallic shell, the open end of which is cylindrical in form; a bullet of smaller diameter inserted in said open end; and parts of the front end of the wall of the shell pressed inward to engage and hold the bullet, the remainder of the shell being left in its original shape.

2. A cartridge comprising a cylindrical shell slit at its open end; and a bullet contained in the open end of the shell and secured in position by the material between the slits at the end, which material is bent left in its original shape.

in against the side of the bullet, the other In testimony whereof, I have signed my portions of the material between the slits l name to this specification in the presence crimped, the remainder of the shell being 5 being of the original shape. of two subscribing witnesses.

3. A cartridffe comprising a metallic shell the open endbof which is cylindrical iri JOSEPH H' VVESSON' form; a bullet of smaller diameter inserted Witnesses: in said open end; and parts of the wall of D. B. WEssoN, 10 the shell separated from other parts and! H. L. POMEROY.

Copies of this patent may he obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

